“Yeah. I wanted to know what my options were.”
I perk up for a minute until I look over and see Levi’s appearance.
Oh yeah. He wouldn’t look like shit if there was good news.
My head rests on his shoulder for a moment before I decide to rip off the bandaid. “What did he say?”
“Since there’s no proof of the blackmail, I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place. Father can’t step in since he’s on the Council and they have a treaty between the Fae and the Demons. It’s fragile as it is. So, I don’t have another option. I have to play the dutiful fiancé.” His voice comes out as a whisper while sorrow and anger duel across his face.
I wet my suddenly dry lips and squeeze his hand. “There has to be another way, Levi. I won’t let you go that easily,” I declare as a tear runs down my cheek.
“I wish it was that easy, Rez,” he says, wrapping an arm around my neck and starts playing with my hair.
“Why can’t it be?”
“You know how Shifters have mates? Well, Mages don’t have mates, per say. Two things can bind us to another. Our magic can pick someone for us, though, I’m not sure how that works. The other is taking an oath in front of your partner. Breaking it can mean unbearable pain or even death to the mage.” A shudder runs through his body.
“Well thank God you—”
“I have to make my oath to Emer this weekend.”
“WHAT!?” I shriek, lifting my head off his shoulder and staring at him like a stranger. He can’t be serious, can he?
“He’s stupid, not deaf.” Zeke’s weak scratchy voice comes from my lap.
“Zeke!” I reach down and wrap my arms around his jaw and squeeze, giving him an upside down hug.
“Can’t…breathe…” he wheezes.
“Oh shit!” I mumble, letting go. “Are you okay?”
Levi quickly hops off the bed, running to the door to yell down the hall that Zeke is awake.
ChapterForty-Nine
THE ENTITY
Zeke
Astampede of Giants runs into the room, not helping the pounding headache I have.
“Zeke!” Moni pounces on me. Thankfully she doesn’t weigh that much! She sits on my chest in her two-inch form and rattles off questions in Moni fashion.
“What happened to you? Where were you? How could you just run off? Are you okay? What have you been eating? How dare you scare me like that! Is it true you’re a secret N-word? What kind of idiot turns off his phone so we can’t track him? What is wrong with you? I’ve missed you.” She takes a deep breath and faints.
“I’ll take her,” says a random blond guy inmyroom as he reaches out for my little sister.
“Who the fuck are you?” I try to put venom in my voice, but it just comes out weak.
He quickly looks to see if any of my brothers will speak up and seeing that they won’t, he puffs up his chest, pushes his glasses up, and gives me an annoyed look. “I’m Chester, her mate. Now let me take her,” he demands and gently grabs her off my chest, pulling her tightly against him.
“Mate?” I look around the room as no one makes eye contact with me. “What the fuck did I miss?”
“A lot,” Rez says, leaning over me and taking up the space above my head. My heart soars as I look up into her gray eyes, and she smiles down at me. “Are you okay?” she asks, her brows furrowed with worry.
Rez grabs my hand and squeezes it lightly before kissing the back of it.
“I’m good now,” I reply, giving her a sheepish look.
